Reuters

By Francesco Guarascio

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's foreign affairs ministry told the European Union it was not available for a meeting next week with the bloc's top official on Russian sanctions, diplomats said, as Hanoi prepares for a possible visit from Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

Vietnam has been striving to pursue a neutral foreign policy in its relations with major world powers. It has abstained from condemning Russia's attack... (continue reading...)

By Rene Wagner and Maria Martinez

BERLIN (Reuters) - The United States overtook China as Germany's most important trading partner in the first quarter of this year, according to Reuters' calculations based on official data from the German statistics office.

Germany's trade with the United States - exports and imports combined - totalled 63 billion euros ($68 billion) from January to March, while the figure for China was just under 60... (continue reading...)

By Kopano Gumbi and Joe Bavier

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's African National Congress (ANC), fighting to extend its 30-year grip on power in elections this month, would like to cast the government programmes that support Dalene Raiters and her family as a success story.

But the 48-year-old doesn't see it that way.

"The ANC, I don't want to even talk to them," an angry Raiters told Reuters from the single room in... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) - Myanmar's military chief discussed plans to hold an election in the country with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen in talks this week, a senior official said, even as the ruling junta faces unprecedented pressure from an expanding armed resistance.

The military government has promised repeatedly to return Myanmar to democracy but has given no timeframe for when an election will happen.

Hun Sen, who stepped down as Cambodia's... (continue reading...)

(Reuters) - Apollo-backed Concord said on Thursday it will stick with its offer of $1.25 apiece for Hipgnosis Songs Fund, days after Blackstone outbid it for the music rights owner of artists such as Shakira and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The $1.51 billion offer from Nashville-based Concord was its second proposal for the music rights investor as it battled Blackstone for rights to more than 65,000 songs, including tracks by Blondie and Neil Young.